VeraSage

Michelle Golden

Odd, but not! After posting this, I read a message on Paul’s blog posted today by his kids and they talked about...quality over quantity. It’s a touching message from the kids and it further shows how much this his life meant to him.

Ric Willmot

This is very sad news. Paul and I shared some drinks a little over a year ago here in Brisbane, Australia. We had both delivered presentations on Pricing to the Queensland Law Society. We had planned on doing more together but never formalised anything due to our hectic travel schedules. A wonderful person who will be remembered fondly.
Rgds,
Ric

john chisholm

Its not often you meet someone and your world is changed forever-for the better. Paul O’Byrne was that someone for me both in a professional and personal sense.

I met Paul a little over 3 years ago in Sydney just before he was due to present the following day to a bunch of lawyers and law firm managers on “The Firm of the Future” at the Australian Legal Practice Management Association Annual Summit!

I had little idea what the firm of the future was but within 24 hours I was a convert.After over 25 years as a partner/managing partner/CEO of Law Firms all of a sudden I met someone who so passionately,eloquently,amuzingly and genuinely was able to put some of the missing pieces of the jigsaw in the right places. Where was Paul 25 years ago when I was struggling through the billable hour maze-just because everyone else was?I knew there had to be a better way-I just didnt have anyone to guide me in a practical and pragmatic way at the time.

Paul came out to Australia probably 5 or 6 times over the ensuring couple of years presenting,speaking, teaching, workshopping and pleading with professional services firms to move away from “The Almighty Billable Hour”.The impact Paul has had both on the legal and accounting professions in Australia is truly remarkable and it will be an impact long remembered.

But this business side of Paul was just part of the man. Increasingly it was the personal side of Paul that allowed us to become close friends and colleagues and our families to become as one at times.We spent time in each others homes-"just dagging about” as Paul would say-and with each others friends.

To have been able to spend time with Paul and his family a little over 2 weeks ago was one of the most joyous and saddest time of my life-the joy of again sharing experiences, stories,laughter and tears with a most remarkable human being-and the sadness of saying goodbye for the last time.

Paul may not have changed the world-but that is ONLY because he didnt get to meet everyone in the world.

Farewell mate- the legacy you have left will continue to inspire us all to keep up the good fight and to spread the good word.

John

Ed Kless

I do not have the words, but fortunately, I know someone who does, A. E. Housman.

To An Athlete Dying Young

THE time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high. 

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town. 

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose. 

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears: 

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup. 

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl’s.

Marlene Franke

Ron,

I remember when I first met you and Paul a little over 3 years ago.  Since then, it has been my pleasure and privilege to spend the time with him that I did.  I saw Paul a little over a year ago in Vegas during a Principa conference.  I was so happy that my staff had the opportunity to hear him speak.

Selfishy, I miss my friend and the news has come as a hard blow.  His last emails to me were about 10 days ago and I knew I would not be talking with him again after that.

To you all who considered Paul a dear friend and mentor as I did, we must celebrate his life through our own and continue his efforts in both our personal and professional lives.

He certainly added value to everyone and everything he did.

Goodbye dear friend.

SJS

The story really sounds very sad.I would like to wish good luck to his family for their future.I would really like to read his last blog about life.Thanks for sharing.